Humidifier



May-14,1929. J. ROEMER l,7f3,l93

' HUMIDIFIER Filed March 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JULIUS RUEMER Y Invznrnn BY MVM Arrnkum y I4, 1929- J. ROEMER 1,713,193

' HUMIDIFIE R Filed March 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Juuus Ruewan I BY [M 92:23:;

Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES JULIUS BOEMER, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

HUMIDIFIER.

Application filed March 21, 1927. Serial No. 176,916.

My invention relates to air moistening devices, and particularly to providing an evaporator for liquids, in which by reason of having a relatively small quantity of liquid spread over a relatively large area the rate of evaporation will be greatly accelerated, and also to provide an evaporator in which a sudden infiow of liquid from a source of supply will be collected in the evaporator and carried away, thereby preventing an overflowof liquid onto the walls of a furnace with which the evaporator is used, or into a compartment in which the evaporator may be installed, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved evaporator of this type. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, various forms which my invention may assume, and in these drawings: y Figure 1 is a section showingone embodiment of my invention assembled with a radiator, I I

Figure 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of the evaporator shown Figure 1, 7 u v Figure 3 is a similar view showing an auxiliary heating means,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the auxiliary heating means ofFigure 3,

Figure 5 is a vertical'section of an evaporator adapted for use with a furnace, while Figures 6,7, and 8 are similar views of variant forms. I i i The embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive comprises a metallic structure 11 having a chamber 12 enclosed by a cylindrical side wall 13. a bottom wall. 14. and a centrally depressedtop wall 15, and adapted to be installed in the floor 16' adjacent a radiator 17 beneath which is a register 18 through which the products of evaporation are adapted to pass.

The structure 11 is designed to be heated by steam introduced into the chamber 12 through a conduit 19 having a connection with the steam pipe 20 of a heating system, and the water resulting from the condensation of such steam is carried away by areturn pipe 21. A valve 22 is provided for relieving the air within the chamber 12.

The centrally depressed top portion 15 has a tapered side wall 23 which is provided with a series of substantially V-shaped troughs 24 arranged in parallel relation one above the other and each having a relatively wide upper wall 25 disposed at a relatively small angle'to the horizontal plane and a lower. relatively narrow wall 26 disposed at a relatiyely' right angle to the horizontal plane. A plpe 27 connected with a suitable source of liquid supply, having means for either manually or automatically controlling the flow of liquid, is provided for introducing the necessary liquid into the top trough 24 from which it spills over the edge into the next trough 24 which when filled in turn spills into the adjacent trough 24 and so on to the lowermost trough 24 of the depression 60 which is cup-shaped to collect any excess liquid from thehigher troughs 24 and is provided with a drain pipe 28 to carry away such excess liquids, thus preventing any overflowing from the accumulation of excess liquid 1n the evaporator 11. By thus providing an evaporator in which a thin layer of liquid is spread over a relatively large heated area the rate of evaporation is greatly accelerated.

Wherethe device is applied to a vacuum heating system the temperature of the vapor of the system'may be insuflicient to provide a rate of evaporation to properly humidify the atmosphere. Accordingly, I provide the auxiliary heating means shown in Figures 3 and4 andconsisting of an electric heating element 29 designed to be used with an alternating'current and consisting of a pair of intercoiled copper plates 30 and 31 retained in spaced apart relation by a plate 32 of in sulat-ing material. This device is adapted to be disposed in the centrally depressed portion 15 adjacent to, but spaced away from the bottom thereof, so that when the accumulated liquid reaches a pre-determined depth the water acts to establish a circuit between the intercoiled plates 30 and 31 thus causing a boiling of liquid which continues until the liquid has accumulated to a second pro-determined depth whereupon the depres sion is emptied by a siphon drain pipe 33 and the heating action of the element ceases until such time as the accumulated liquid again establishes a circuit between the two plates 30 and 31.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 5 is designed to be disposed upon the top of a heating furnace and consists of a frusto-conieal metallic structure 35 having a centrally depressed top portion 36 and a drain pipe 37 for carrying away excess liquid which accumulates in the lowermostportion of the depression. a

The form shown in Figure 6 is designed likewise .to be, disposed on the top ofa turnace of a heating system and is adapted to be adjusted to furnaces having tops of different contourso that the depressed liquid containing portion may be brought into contact-with the top of the furnace irrespective of its shape'and consists of a frusto-conicalbase member 40 having an outer shell member ll of greater width thanthe b'a-semember, l0 overlying the base member 40 and a liquid receiving bowl portion .42 provided with troughs in. itsside wall 43 and'adjusta'ble 'uponthe base 40 by means of set screws itadjustable in slots45 inthe outer shell member 41'. K i i In the variation shown in Figure 7 the bottom wall is omitted and diametrically opposed portions of the sidewall 13 are-connectedby acrossbar 46 which supports a gasburner l'? that supplies the heat of evaporation tor the liquid contained in the bowl portion 48 .and is provided with a flue 49 for carrying off the products ofi combustion.

The variation shown inFigure 8 comprises. a similar device having the bottom Wall 50 "the evaporator and carriedaway, thereby preventing an overflow ofsuchliquid onto the walls of a furnace'or into a compartment in the wall of a building in whichthe evaporator may be disposed Y 1 Itwill; therefore be apparent to' those skilled in the art that the embodiment ofmy invention herein shown and described acco'm plishes at least the principal objector myinvention.

At the same time it also will be obvious to thoseskilled in the artthat theembod iinent of 'my invention herein shown and described may be-variously changed andm odified without departing from the spirit of'my invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof, audit therefore Will'be understood that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, andthjat my invention is IlOhlIIIllifid thereto.

1. An evaporator for use in connection with r a heating system comprising: a metallic structuretadapted to be heated'and having'a'cen trally depressed top. portion in the shape of a bowl having its side walls comprisingfaseries of liquld receiving troughs soarranged that liquid introduced in said bowl flows downwardly over the heated surfaces of said troughs until evaporated, v

.2. An evaporator for use in connection with a heatingsystem comprising a metallic structure'adapted to be heated and having a centrally depressed top portion in the shape 0t abowl having its .side' walls comprising a series of liquid receiving troughs disposed one above the other, and means for supplyingliquid'at a point near the edge of said bowl whence it may fiow'downwardly over the heatedsurfaces ofsaid troughs until evaporated. g J

3'. An evaporator for use in connection with a heating system comprising: a metallic structure adapted to be heatedand haying a cen- V trallydepressed top portion in the shape of a bowl having its side walls comprlsing a series of liquid receiving troughs. disposed parallel to'each other one-above the other, whercbyliquid introduced in said bowl flows downward 1y over the heated surfaces of said troughs until evaporated. 1 i

4. An evaporator for usein connection with heating system comprising ainetallic struc-- V ture-adapted to beheated. and having-a centrally depressed top portion in the shape of a bowl having its side walls comprising a series of substantially ii-shaped liquid receiving troughs one above the other and each having its upper side disposed at a relatively small angle to the horizontal plane, audits lower side disposed at a relatively great angle to the 7 horizontal plane, whereby "a relatively large heated surface is presented to the liquid fiow ing downwardly oversaid troughs. i

.5. An evaporator for use in connection with a heatingsystem comprising a metallic structure-adapted to be' heated and having a centrally dep resedtop portionin the shape o'ta bowl havlng its side walls comprisinga series of liquid receiving. troughs so arrangedithat liquid introduced into SZLlCl bowl fiows downwardly over the heated surfaces of. said troughs, and' a 'drainpipe communicating with the lowermost portion of said bo'wl'foi' carrying away excess liquid. V 6.5 An evaporatorfor use in connection with a heating system comprising: a'base adapted to be disposed upon a furnace, metallic structure adapted to be heated and adjust able on said base and having a-centrally de 7 pressed topportion in the shapeiot a bowl having its side walls comprising'a series of substantially l-shapedfliquid receiving troughs disposed parallel 'toz'e'ach other one above the other and: each trough" having its upper side disposed at a relatively small angle to the horizontalplanaand its lower side disposed ata relatively'great angle to the horiszontal plane, whereby a relatively large heata heating system comprising: a base, a metalhe structure adapted to be heated and adjustable on said base and having a centrally dcpressed top portion in the shape of a bowl having its side walls comprising a series of liquid receiving troughs so arranged that liquid introduced into said bowl flows downwardly over a relatively large heated surface of said troughs untilevaporated.

8. An evaporator for use in connection with a heating system comprising: a base, a metallie structure adapted to be heated and adjustable on said base andhaving a centrally depressed top portion in the shape of a bowl having its side walls comprising a series of substantially V-shaped liquid receiving troughs disposed parallel to each other one above the other and each trough having its upper side disposed at a relatively small angle to the horizontal plane, and its lower side disposed at a relatively great angle to the horizontal plane, whereby a relatively large heated surface is presented to the liquid flowing downwardly over said troughs.

9. An evaporator for use in connection with a heating system comprising: a metallic structure adapted to be disposed upon a furnace and having a centrally depressed top portion in the shape of a bowl having its side walls comprising a series of liquid receiving troughs so arranged that liquid introduced into said bowl flows downwardly over a relatively large heated surface of the troughs until evaporated.

10. An evaporator for use in connection with a heating system comprising: a casing forming a chamber and having a centrally depressed top portion in the shape of a bowl having its sides comprising a series of liquid receiving troughs, and means for introducing steam in said chamber for evaporating liquid contained in said troughs.

11. An evaporator for use in connection with a heating system comprising: a casing forming a chamber and having a centrally depressed top portion in the shape of bowl having its sides comprising a series of liquid receiving troughs, means for introducing steam in said chamber for evaporating liquid contained in said troughs, and auxiliary heating means for heating said liquid comprising an electrically energized heating element disposed in the lower portion of said depressed top portion and brought into action when the accumulated liquid in said depressed top portion reaches a predetermined depth and siphon means for draining away the accumulated liquid when it has reached another predetermined depth.

12. An evaporator for use in connection with a heating system comprising: a casing forming a chamber and having a centrally depressed top, portion in the shape of a bowl having its sides comprising a series of liquid receiving troughs one above the other, means for introducing steam in said chamber for evaporating said liquid, and auxiliary heating means for heating said liquid comprising an electrically energized heating element disposed in the lower portion of said depression and brought into action when the accumulated liquid in said depression reaches a predetermined depth and siphon means for draining away the accumulated liquid when it has reached another predetermined depth.

13. In a steam heating system, a humidifying apparatus comprising, a casing forming a chamber and having a centrally depressed top portion in the shape of a bowl having its sides channeled to form a series of horizontal liquid-receiving troughs arranged in overflowing relation one above the other, means for introducing steam into said chamber, and means for delivering water into one of the uppermost troughs.

14. In a steam heating system, the combination with a floor type steam radiator of a hollow casing supported below said floor, ad-

jacent to said radiator, the floor having an opening therein below said radiator and adjacent to said casing, and said casing being hollow, forming a chamber for the reception of steam, the top of said casing having a cen- 'trally depressed portion in the shape of a bowl, the sides of which comprise a series of liquid-receiving troughs, steam connections between the interior of said chamber and the supply pipes of said radiator, and means for supplying liquid to be evaporated to one of said troughs.

15. In a steam heating system, the combination with a floor type steam radiator of a hollow casing supported below said floor, adjacent to said radiator, the floor having an opening therein below said radiator and adjacent to said casing, and said casing being hollow, forming a chamber for the reception of steam, the top of said casing having a centrally depressed portion in the shape of a bowl, the sides of which comprise a series of liquid-receiving troughs, steam connections between the interior of said chamber and the supply pipes of said radiator, and means for supplying liquid to be evaporated to one of said troughs, and a drain pipe for removing any unevaporated accumulation of liquid from the bottom of such bowl.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JULIUS ROEMER. 

